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— Jago |
Jago is a mysterious warrior monk from a remote region of Tibet. A major signature character of the Killer Instinct series and one of its main protagonists, Jago has been playable in every installment of the franchise to date. Guided by the mysterious Tiger Spirit to seek his destiny, he has been led to the Killer Instinct tournament to destroy the evil within. He is the younger half-brother of Orchid.
When possessed by the demon herald Omen, he becomes a shadow version of himself.
Biography[]
Appearance[]
In Killer Instinct (1994) and Killer Instinct 2, Jago wears a torn blue bodysuit with a red sash and strap for the sheathe of his sword, while also wearing blue gloves with red lines, also slightly torn, and black boots with red strings on them. He wears a blue headband and facial mask to hide his identity, and his long hair falls over part of his face. His weapon of choice is a jagged katana that glows brightly during combos.
The ♫ eye of the tiger ♫, the thrill of the fight
Jago's appearance drastically changes in Killer Instinct 2013, having done away with his old bodysuit and other clothes and said to have fashioned his new look from the very temple he lives in. He is now shirtless, exposing the intricate tiger tattoo covering his left arm and upper torso, wears new armguards and belt, a new sash, blue pants, tiger mouth shaped shinguards and new blue sandals. His outfit is very humble and ramshackle, being composed of the curtains, ropes, floor tiles, and centerpieces that make up his lair. Instead of a cloth mask, he now wears a plated metal mask that covers his entire head save for his windswept hair. He has replaced his katana with a curved Tibetan machete called a kora.
Jago's Retro Costume mirrors his KI/KI2 appearance, but with additional tiger tattoo that he has from his default costume and sports clean shaven undercut hair.
In Killer Instinct (Dynamite Comics) Issue #2 which marks the first time seen Jago unmasked appears in casual clothing and grew facial hair along with his hair under in which slightly grew after their fight with Gargos.
Personality[]
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— Jago's story mode description |
Jago is a warrior-monk whose goal is to seek out other fighters and fulfill his destiny by entering the Killer Instinct tournament and destroying Ultratech. He is a quiet and stern man who, due to having spent much time in solitude, isn’t very friendly or open to quaint pleasures of the world. While most combatants fight for such things like fortune, glory, or revenge, Jago seeks the fight to gain enlightenment, both physically and spiritually. He has a hard and stoic demeanor, but knows that he must fight for the sake of all and will readily accept any help he can get from others. He has struggled much with the temptation of Gargos' power, and if he gives in to his inner demons, he knows full well he will become Shadow Jago again. His bond with his half-sister, Orchid, often helps him push the darkness away.
Abilities[]
Jago fights using mostly kung fu moves, although he does resort to some more brutish untrained blows, especially when wielding his signature katana/kora. He can also channel the power of the Tiger Spirit to charge his attacks with golden light and unleash the powerful Endokuken fireball - when the Tiger Spirit's true identity is revealed, he begins to draw upon his own human energy from his soul instead.
Killer Instinct[]
Jago's original appearance in Killer Instinct (1994)
Jago's "classic" costume in Killer Instinct (2013)
Story[]
Jago is a mysterious warrior monk from a remote region of Tibet. Guided by the powerful Tiger Spirit to seek his destiny, he has been lead to the Killer Instinct tournament to destroy the evil within.
Extended Story[]
Found abandoned as a baby at a Himalayan monastery and taken in by the Monks of the Tiger, Jago showed great promise from the start and, under the tutelage of the ancient Abbot, has swiftly become one of the Order's star pupils. During meditation he is visited by the very Tiger spirit his Order serves, which grants him great powers and chooses him to battle the sinister evil of Ultratech. At first the power threatens to overwhelm Jago's sanity, but he soon masters it and becomes the finest warrior the Order has yet fathered. The ever-present uncertainty as to his origins, however, still troubles him.
Stage: Tiger Shrine
Ending[]
Jago returns victorious to his shrine for communion with the Tiger spirit. By defeating the evil that existed at Ultratech, Jago is brought one step closer towards total enlightenment. Granted new powers for his loyal service, Jago strives for self improvement. He must now seek out a greater challenge and fulfill his destiny.
Killer Instinct 2[]
Jago in Killer Instinct 2 (arcade, 1996)
Story[]
After destroying Fulgore, a furious Jago is betrayed by his one time master the tiger spirit. The disguised demon lord used him to escape from the void, and now Jago swears vengeance.
Extended Story[]
Jago's upbringing at the hands of the warrior Monks of the Tiger taught him to cherish the concepts of honour, justice and loyalty, and it is this ingrained nobility of the soul that makes the Tiger Spirit's treachery a particularly bitter pill to swallow. When his erstwhile mentor is exposed as the Warlord Gargos following the destruction of Eyedol and the 2000-year timeshift, an agonized Jago vows to destroy the fiend who has manipulated his destiny and betrayed his Order.
Stage: Bridge
Endings[]
Kill Fulgore Don't Kill Orchid[]
Jago's task is complete he has risen to the heights of which only a grand master can attain. Jago's victory is doubly complete with the total destruction of his nemesis Fulgore. And in the events that follow, Jago finds out he has a lost elder sister - Orchid. United at last they form a deadly fighting team. Fulgore is dead but the new team of Jago and Orchid must face a familiar enemy. Ultratech is rebuilt. The fight is not yet over...
Still from one of Jago's arcade endings in Killer Instinct 2
Kill Fulgore and Orchid[]
Jago's task is complete he has risen to the heights of which only a grand master can attain. Jago's victory is doubly complete with the total destruction of his nemesis Fulgore. But his victory seems hollow searching for his soul and using power of meditation he senses he has lost something unknown. Although Fulgore was destroyed in the conflict. Enough remained of Ultratech and it was rebuilt. Jago must continue his quest...
Don't Kill Fulgore or Orchid[]
Jago's task is complete he has risen to the heights of which only a grand master can attain. After all the battles, Jago senses Fulgore has survived. Wary of the danger the cyborg presents he knows he must watch his back. The attack is quick to arrive, but the mysterious Orchid comes to Jago's aid once again. Unable to withstand both of them Fulgore is destroyed. Fulgore is dead but the new team of Jago and Orchid must face a familiar enemy. Ultratech is rebuilt. The fight is not yet over...
Kill Orchid, Don't Kill Fulgore[]
Jago's task is complete he has risen to the heights of which only a grand master can attain. After all the battles, Jago senses Fulgore has survived. Wary of danger the cyborg presents he knows he must watch his back. But mere vigilance is not enough against the lethal Fulgore. Taking full advantage of Jagos weakness the cyborg finally gets its revenge. With no one left to stop him, Fulgore rebuilds Ultratech in the past. History is rewritten to a world totally ruled by the corporation.
Killer Instinct (2013)[]
Jago's new default appearance for Killer Instinct (2013)
Story[]
After a lifetime devoted to purity and discipline, Jago is tortured by the knowledge that the last vestiges of the evil Tiger Spirit, Gargos, remain within him. He sets forth to discover an opponent strong enough to purge Gargos’ corruption in the crucible of combat.
Extended Story[]
The Secrets of the Tiger:
- Main article: The Secrets of the Tiger
Shadow Lords[]
Mind over Body
Jago senses that he must return to the Tiger's Lair, hoping that he will gain insights to help him defeat Gargos. Jago arrives at the temple. This place that holds so many powerful memories. Here, he learned to train his body... and his mind. But Jago has been put on a crooked path. For the Tiger Spirit was an illusion. A tool of Gargos.
He sees his shadow-self. Is this a dream or a reality? It makes no difference. He must fight the manifestation either way.
The Shadow Within
Omen, in the guise of the Tiger Spirit, once manipulated Jago down a path of destruction. This spawn of Gargos now roams unshackled, free to corrupt all of Earth's innocents.
Stage[]
Jago's new Tiger's Lair background stage in KI (2013)
- Main article: Tiger's Lair
Similar to both the Tiger Shrine (KI) and Bridge (KI2))
During an Ultra Combo, the lair will collapse, and the rope that holds the bell in place collapse, causing the bell to crash onto the bridge which leads the entrance to the lair.
Trivia: During the slow music due to characters not moving, the samples from his classic theme, "Do It Now" will play.
Endings[]
Spare Orchid, ULTRA Fulgore:
Having defeated the strongest of his opponents, Jago failed to purge Gargos' corruptive force. Waging a constant internal battle, he resolves to return of the abandoned Tiger Temple to wrestle through his crisis of faith, and pursue his destiny to become the Master of the Tiger Spirit.
For every light, there is a shadow...
...behind every shadow is the light of hope
ULTRA Orchid, Spare Fulgore:
Distraught of having to end his sister's self-destructive crusade of vengeance, Jago's will momentarily falters. Gargos' corruption strengthens, crushing the monk's iron discipline. Jago is consumed by flames of hatred, and is reborn as a weapon of chaos.
ULTRA Both Orchid and Fulgore:
His battle at an end, Jago feels the demons within begin to subside. His glimpse of peace is short lived, as the memory of his lost sister burns like an ember. Tortured by the unending spiritual battle he wages, Jago enters self-imposed exile in the abandoned Tiger Temple.
Gallery[]
Killer Instinct (1994)[]
Killer Instinct (2013)[]
_-_Jago_Artwork_1.jpg "Killer Instinct (Xbox One) - Jago Artwork 1.jpg (278 KB)")
_-_Jago_Artwork_2.jpg "Killer Instinct (Xbox One) - Jago Artwork 2.jpg (295 KB)")
_-_Jago_Artwork_3.jpg "Killer Instinct (Xbox One) - Jago Artwork 3.jpg (244 KB)")
_FRONT.jpg "Killer Instinct -1 Nintendo Power Edition (Paul Gulacy art) FRONT.jpg (362 KB)")
Quotes[]
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—Jago telling his story in the 2017 "Dynamite" KI comics |
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—Jago denies Omen and Gargos during the events of Shadow Lords |
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—Jago after resisting Omen's corruption (Shadow Lords dialogue) |
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—Jago tries to stop Tusk from cutting Mira's head off (2017 KI comics) |
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—Jago referring to B. Orchid in the 1996 KI comics |
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—Jago speaking to Kim Wu in the 2017 comics |
Trivia[]
- In the original universe, his design was based off a ninja despite his status as Tibetan monk, but then in the 2013 rebooted universe, his design was remade into a true Tibetan monk.
- During the patch 3.5 update, Jago received a Shadow Skin despite that Shadow Jago appeared in a separate roster.
- Jago originally said "Perhaps this was not the path for you." after every match during the early E3 build of the game, but this was changed into his trademark "I'm afraid your path ends here." win quote in the final version.
- Jago's Ultimate in post-Season 3 of KI 2013 resembles the Spirit Bomb from Dragon Ball Z.
- Fans have unofficially referred to it as Jago's "Endokuken Bomb" or "Tiger Spirit Bomb".
- In Mira's Trailer, Jago has Shadow Jago's voice instead of his.
External Links[]
- Jago's character page at the official Killer Instinct Website
- Jago's gameplay profile at Infil's The Complete Killer Instinct Guide
Media[]
- Jago's Ultimate - First reveal of Jago's new Ultimate Combo for KI 2013
- CrazySkateNate (Jago) vs UA Bass (Shadow Jago) - Video compilation of pro gamer matchups with Jago
| Killer Instinct (1994) Characters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playable | Jago ·Black Orchid ·TJ Combo ·Glacius ·Chief Thunder ·Sabrewulf ·Spinal ·Cinder ·Riptor ·Fulgore | |||
| Boss | Eyedol | |||
| Killer Instinct 2/Gold Characters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playable | Jago ·Black Orchid ·TJ Combo ·Glacius ·Sabrewulf ·Spinal ·Fulgore ·Maya ·Kim Wu ·Tusk | |||
| Boss | Gargos | |||
| Killer Instinct (2013) Characters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Jago ·Sabrewulf ·Glacius ·Thunder ·Sadira ·Orchid ·Spinal ·Fulgore ·Shadow Jago | |||
| Season 2 | TJ Combo ·Maya ·Kan-Ra ·Riptor ·Omen ·Aganos ·Hisako ·Cinder ·ARIA | |||
| Season 3 | Kim Wu ·Tusk ·Arbiter ·Rash ·Mira ·Gargos ·General RAAM ·Eyedol | |||
| Season 3+ | Kilgore ·Shin Hisako ·Eagle | |||
